Organized by the Washington based advocacy group FreedomWorks, the march took place on a date heralded by talk show commentator Glenn Beck as a symbol of conservatives new political awakening. Beck did not attend.

Tea party activists used a similar march last year to galvanize their opposition to Democrats healthcare overhaul. In the process, they established themselves as leading voices of opposition to the Obama administration and a threat to incumbent Republicans deemed too moderate.

"Last year was our Woodstock," said Anne Forgey, 69, a retiree from Huntsville, Ala. "I came this year because I still worried about our country. I worried about the direction we headed. I believe they are trying to take away our freedom."

Like many at the Asics Gel Nimbus 9 rally, Forgey carried a sign linking Obama policies to socialism or communism, a central charge of the small government movement. Forgey placard read "No USSA" over a hand drawn picture of the hammer and sickle from the former Soviet Union flag.

Although the movement failed to block the healthcare measure, the movement has had some success. Tea party supported candidates have won Republican nominations in several states, including Alaska, where incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski lost the GOP primary to Joe Miller. The next test is Tuesday in Delaware, where Christine O is trying to defeat Rep. Mike Castle for the Republican Senate nomination.

The mood Sunday was upbeat and energized as activists marched from the Washington Monument to the west steps of the Capitol chanting, "Vote them out!" A group from Savannah, Ga., dressed as signers of the Constitution. Others lined up to sign a massive Battle of Gonzales flag an emblem from the Texas Revolution brought by a group from Austin.

Police and National Park Service officials do not issue crowd estimates for events on the National Mall. Attendees ASICS Gel Lyte IIIcovered most of the Capitol west lawn stretching to its reflecting pool.

Many said the turnout was surprisingly strong given that a much larger rally, coordinated by Beck, was held just two weeks ago.

Unlike that event, Sunday rally was advertised as a political call to arms and an organizational tool. Several conservative figures used it to publicize their initiatives and reach activists.

"We are a citizen journalism army and we are going to take our country back," he said.

FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe said his group was already looking past election day.

"Every two years, politicians come to you to promise to change the culture in Washington," Kibbe said. "Politicians in Washington don mean it. You can change the culture in Washington. But what the tea party is Asics GEL Stratus 2.1 doing today is changing the culture in America."